“Combustion & Venting”

1. “Combustion & Venting”

2. Gas Heating Systems • Forced air • Hydronic forced air • Hydronic (radiant) • Heat pump forced air • Direct / Radiant

3. Natural Convection Systems

4. Forced Air Systems

5. Up Flow Heating Section BlowerSection

6. LowBoy or Cross-flow Furnace Heating Section Blower Section

7. Down Flow (Counter Flow) BLOWER SECTION HEATING SECTION

8. Horizontal Flow Furnace HEATING SECTION BLOWER SECTION

9. Hydronic Heating Systems

10. Direct Systems

11. Sources of Fuel • Electricity • Wood • Coal • Fuel oil • Natural gas • Propane • Butane

12. Combustion Theory

13. Composition of Gases In their raw form, methane and ethane are odorless, colorless, and tasteless, and are the primary gases refined for natural gas. Propane and butane can be obtained from natural gas, or as a byproduct from the refining of oil. They are also practically colorless, odorless, and tasteless. What is that smell? Odorants are added to gasses before they are distributed to help with leak detection. Most odorants are sulfur-based and smell like rotten eggs. The gases discussed here are generally used to supply heat energy and are called fuel gasses. As you will see, compounds of hydrogen (H) and carbon (C) atoms, known as hydrocarbons, make up the major portion of fuel gasses.

14. Natural Gas Natural gas is the most popular fuel used in the HVAC industry. Because of its properties and characteristics, it is more economical and desirable than other fuels for heating. Natural gas is non-toxic and non-poisonous. One reason that natural gas burns so clean is the low amount of carbon Composition is 85% methane and 15% ethane. Normally!! Sometimes LP is injected to raise the BTUH value. The methane molecule consists of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. The ethane molecule is made up of two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms.

15. Propane Propane is the most popular LP gas used in our industry. The propane molecule consists of three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms. Butane Butane is an LP gas that is rarely used and has been phased out in most areas for home heating because it doesn’t vaporize into a gas at temps below freezing. The butane molecule is made up of four carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms. It is the most complex of the fuel gas molecules.

16. Boiling Point Not only are LP gasses a fuel source; but they are also in the refrigerant family. Like any other refrigerant, LP gas is stored in tanks with the liquid settling on the bottom and vapor on the top in the tank. As the LP fuel is used out of the tank, the pressure within the vessel drops, lowering the saturation or "boiling point." The heat surrounding the tank causes a portion of the liquid to boil off into vapor. This process keeps a constant supply of vapor LP gas at the top for use.

17. Specific Gravity Specific Gravity is a comparative measurement based on weight and volume. Dry Air = 1.0 Specific Gravity at Sea Level

18. Ignition Temperature Fuel must be raised to a specific temperature for combustion to take place. Listed below is the temperature needed for combustion of each specific fuel. This can come from an existing flame, such as a match or standing pilot, a spark that is hot enough, or a hot surface igniter that glows red-hot when electricity is applied to it. Ignition Temperature (in air): • Natural Gas 1200° F • Propane 920 - 1020° F Maximum Flame Temperature (in air): • Natural Gas 3400° F • Propane 3595° F

19. Natural gas is safer and is the preferred fuel for many reasons: • It is cleaner burning, due to the fact than there are fewer carbon atoms in its make up, and it mixes easily with air for combustion. • Being lighter than air, it will dissipate easily if there is a leak. • It has a higher ignition point. • It is non-toxic. Remember that all fuels can be safe, when they are used properly.

20. Upper Flammability Limits (U.F.L.) & Lower Flammability Limits (L.F.L.) The gaseous state of matter is the only one that will combust or burn. For either a solid or a liquid fuel to burn, the material must first be vaporized or changed to gas. This usually requires a heat or pressure change. For combustion to take place, the mixture of gas and air must be within certain limits. These are known as the upper and lower FLAMMABILITY limits. Percentage of gas in a gas-air mixture: L.F.L. U.F.L. • Natural gas 4% - 14% • Propane 2.4% - 9 .6% • Butane 1.9% - 8 .6%

21. Units of Measurement Cubic Feet (cu. ft.)(cf) - One cubic foot is the smallest unit used for measuring the gasses used for heating. All laboratory tests on the combustion process are based on one cubic foot of gas. Centa Cubic Feet (CCF) - this term describes 100cf of natural gas, which is called 1 unit of gas. Therm - a unit of heat energy used in the gas industry.A Therm is 100,000 BTU of heat energy. Gallon - Propane and butane are typically sold by the gallon. The average tank size for residential use is 500 gallons. Pound - Propane is sold in small quantities by the pound. Portable tanks range from around 10 - 100 pounds.

22. 1 BTU = The amount of heat it takes to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1 degree. Natural gas produces between 950 - 1150 BTUs of heat per cubic foot burned. 1050 BTUs per cu. ft. is typical from most local utilities Propane produces about 2516 BTUs per cubic foot burned. 2500 BTUs per cu. ft. is typically used. This would equal about 91,960 BTUs per gallon. Butane produces about 3200 BTUs per cubic foot burned.

23. Fuel Delivery and Operating Pressures The piping materials and construction are regulated by the NFGC (National Fuel Gas Code) and will vary based on local codes. 7 to 9 inches of water column. .5 psi. 3.5 “w.c.

24. LP Fuel Supply Single Regulator Supply Systems Most propane applications use one regulator at the tank. This regulator reduces down to house piping pressure of 11” wc. This is the pressure that is delivered to each appliance within the home. Dual Regulator Supply Systems A dual regulator system is used when there is a long distance between the tank and the house. The first regulator at the tank - 11 PSIG. The second regulator - 11 PSIG down to 11 “wc for delivery to each appliance in the home. Gas pipe size is based on the BTUH of the unit, length of pipe, and the type of fuel according to the NFGC.

25. Gas Pressure Measurements Supply pressure and main burner pressure can be measured in three different methods. The following scale will illustrate the comparison of each scale. 1 PSIG = 16 Ounces = 27.71 Inches of Water Column • Typical manifold pressure settings • Natural gas 3.5 in. wc. • • Propane 10.5 in. wc. • IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT MANUFACTURER’S DATA ON MANIFOLD PRESSURE BE FOLLOWED.

26. Combustion Air Combustion air requirements for proper combustion: 1 cu. ft. natural gas 10 cu. ft. combustion air 1 cu. ft. propane 23.5 cu. ft. combustion air 1 cu. ft. butane 30 cu. ft. combustion air Excess Air Since it is not practical to burn a gas with exactly the right amount of air, excess air is always present around the combustion process. About 50% excess air is typical. This amount varies depending on the fuel being used. Example: 1 cu. ft. natural gas 10 cu. ft. combustion air 5 cu. ft. excess air 15 cu. ft. of air needed for proper combustion

27. The Combustion Process of Natural Gas 1 cu. ft. natural gas 10 cu. ft. air = 8 cu. ft. nitrogen 2 cu. ft. oxygen The products of proper combustion are non-toxic. 11 cu. ft. of combustion products are produced: 1 cu. ft. carbon dioxide (CO2) 2 cu. ft. water vapor (H2O) 8 cu. ft. nitrogen (N2)

28. Incomplete Combustion Causes of incomplete combustion: • Insufficient air (excess fuel). • Poor mix of fuel and air - if oxygen does not come into contact with all of the fuel, some of the fuel will be unburned. • Insufficient temperature - a flame impinging on a cooler surface will result in incomplete combustion. • Poor venting - products of combustion cannot get away from the combustion process and are re-circulated back with combustion air. Additional by-products of incomplete combustion - • Aldehyde (toxic, poisonous, acrid in odor and irritating to the eyes, nose and throat. • Carbon monoxide (CO)

29. Physical Properties of Carbon Monoxide 1. Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic (poisonous) gas. 2. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. 3. Specific gravity is 0.980 - slightly lighter than air. 4. Disperses rapidly and evenly into the air in a house. 5. It is carried readily with convection air currents within a closed environment (house).

30. CO and the Human Body CO can harm or, in extreme cases, kill humans and animals. a. Absorbed by the body through the lungs directly to the blood. b. Binds with blood hemoglobin. c. Displaces oxygen. d. Is 242 times more attracted to blood cells than oxygen. e. Restricts oxygen flow to the body’s vital organs. EPA recommends a maximum level of 9 PPM over 24 hours. OSHA recommends a maximum of 50 PPM over 8 hours.

31. CO Standards for Flue Gas To date, the only performance standards governing the emission of carbon monoxide by an appliance are published by AGA, American Gas Association, as approved by ANSI, American National Standards Institute. ANSI standards permit appliances to be operated under conditions that can cause small amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) to be produced. The maximum allowable concentrations vary by the appliance type. Vented appliances, such as furnaces and water heaters, are restricted to a maximum CO emission of 0.04 % or 400 PPM (Air-Free). CO Air-Free is specifically used to describe flue gases without any regard to O and O2. A single gas CO meter with a reading as low as 235 ppm could already be 400 ppm Air-Free, depending on the amount of excess oxygen diluting the reading.

32. Sail forward to your destiny